Please note: there will be no December newsletters. |
November 2025: Words to Lead By |
Essays and Resources to Engage Your Spiritual Leadership |
Center in Gifts to Find Joy in Service |
Well, friends, how goes it? Are we far enough into the church year that you are feeling the volunteer strain? Are you wondering how to balance all you want to do in your congregation with the number of hands to do it? if you find yourselves asking, “who will do all this work?” we joyfully share a way one congregation recently re-centered in giftedness.
In late September, the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Kennebunk, Maine hosted a “Shared Ministry Café” where over 30 people explored where their joys, skills, and curiosities intersected with the needs of the congregation, and the community beyond. The event’s format centered on the question of how they saw the sacred work of shared ministry unfolding, and built off our Centering in Gifts framework. The practice of Centering in Gifts invites discerning and calling forth individual gifts to build, heal, and support community.
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NER Peer Facilitators Training |
NER is looking for nominations for new peer facilitators!
Please pass this on to anyone you think would be interested and good for this role. We will accept applications through Monday, December 15, 2025.
The training will be on Saturday, February 7, 2026 from 10:00am to 3:00pm in Bedford, MA. It will include how to prepare for and facilitate these events. We are putting the call out broadly as well as asking ministers and presidents who they recommend. There is a short application and a request for a congregational reference.
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Multi-Site and Shared Staff Learning Community |
Are you a religious professional serving more than one congregation or community? This learning community is intended to bring folks together to learn about what's working, what is challenging, where there are opportunities, and more.
This space is staff serving more than one community or congregation. Not sure if this is you, because of a unique situation? Fill out the form anyway - even if this isn't the right group, we'd like to know what you are up to.
In addition to staff, we welcome lay leaders from congregations who are doing this intentionally as a "yoked" ministry. Please designate one -- if you have a "shared ministry" team, for example, select someone from that group.
We will gather names through early December, and look to schedule a first meeting that will happen in January 2026.
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Religious Educator Orientation |
If you are a newer religious professional serving in UU faith development, this series will provide connection, community, and context. Get your bearings, build professional relationships, and learn about religious education resources in this series, facilitated by UUA staff and experienced religious educators. Live sessions will be held on Fridays January 9, 23, and February 6 from 2:00 to 4:00pm ET.
Registration is required and available on a sliding scale. For more information and the registration link, please visit the UUA website. The registration deadline is Friday, January 2, 2026. |
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Stories can change the world.
Would you like to know more about the key elements of good storytelling and strategic communications planning? Does the idea of talking to reporters fill you with dread? What’s the difference between Instagram and TikTok, anyway? In the midst of social instability and other challenges, are you wondering how you and your congregation’s public presentation matters?
The UUA’s Communications Staff Group is presenting a webinar series on Communications 101 to help your congregation build your communications skills and capacity, share your stories, and manage crises. This series is designed to help Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and communities promote UU values, highlight your mission and work to audiences inside and outside of Unitarian Universalism, and cultivate relationships with local media.
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Resources from Side With Love |
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Unitarian Universalist Association, New England Region
24 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA
02210
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